Context:
While formulating variational principle, one frequently encounters a statement that
\[ \sum_k f_k(q) \delta q_k=0 \]impiles that \(f_k(q)=0\), because the variations \(\delta q_k\) are arbitrary. Statements like this appear for example in Hamilton's action principle, principle of virtual work etc.The proof is almost never given. We give proofs.
Proof 1:
Without loss of genarality, we assume that \(f_k\) are real.
Since (\delta q_k\) are infinitesimmaly samll, otherwise arbitrary, we choose \[\delta q_k =\epsilon f_k(q).\] This gives \[ \sum_k f_k(q)^2 =0.\] A sum of squares can never be zero, unless each terms is zero. This completes the proof.
Proof 2:
Since \(\delta q_k\) areindependent and arbtrary, we choose \[\delta q_j= \begin{cases} \epsilon & \text{for} q=k \\ 0 & \text{for} q\ne k \end{cases}.\] The given equation then implies \(\epsilon f_k =0\) and this holds for each \(k\).